Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:02:15-2:02:39

The 15-inch/45 could have renewed the Queen Elizabeths

The proposed gun offered a path to improve new battleships while preserving a modernization route for proven older ships.

Ammunition LogisticsKing George V Class Battleships (1939)Live Q&ANaval GunneryQueen Elizabeth Class BattleshipsRoyal NavyShip Modernisation
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Question

Was the proposed 15-inch/45 for the King George V class also intended to fit the Queen Elizabeth class?

Short answer

That seems very likely because the change from the older 15-inch/42 appears small enough to make a retrofit practical.

Notes

There are strong indications that the newer 15-inch/45 was designed with wider fleet use in mind. The dimensional and installation tradeoff from the existing 15-inch/42 appears limited enough for Queen Elizabeth-class conversion. That possibility would have tied new construction to the modernization of the Royal Navy's most valuable older battleships. Common caliber, mount compatibility, and refit planning can multiply the value of a gun program.